Insidious Part 1

Insidious Part 1 INSIDIOUS - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects. || treacherous; crafty. Ephesians 6:10-12 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. There are SPIRITUAL forces that are EVIL at work against us. SCHEME - a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect. || a secret or underhanded plan; a plot. (2Corinthains 2:11) The spiritual forces of evil are LED by the devil. “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” - C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters Jesus acknowledges the being of the devil as REAL and as an ENEMY. (Mark 4:15; Luke 13:16) Luke 10:18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Revelation 12:4, 7-9) The devil is known by different NAMES and tactics. 1. LUCIFER - Light Bearer (Isaiah 14:12) 2. Satan - ADVERSARY, enemy (Luke 10:18) 3. PRINCE of this world - (John 12:38; 14:30; 16:11) Prince - RULER, commander, chief, leader World - (cosmos) ORDER, arrangement, system, government 4. Prince of the POWER of the air (Ephesians 2:2) 5. Prince of DEMONS (Matthew 12:24) Beelzebul - master of the house; Chaldee = DUNG-god 6. Devil - SLANDERER, accuser (1John 3:8) 7. ACCUSER (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10) 8. Father of LIES (John 8:44) 9. DECEIVER (Revelation 12:9; 20:8,10) 10. TEMPTER (Matthew 4:3) 11. THIEF (John 10:10) 12. DRAGON / Serpent (Revelation 12:1-17; 20:2) 13. CUNNING - crafty, clever, skillful (2Corinthians 11:3) 14. MASQUERADER - pretender, faker (2Corinthians 11:14) Satan is a LIMITED being and is not omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent. (Revelation 2:13; Job 1:6-7; Ezekiel 28:11-17) Satan is NEVER called an archangel, but is referred to as having been a guardian cherub in the garden of Eden. (Ezekiel 28:11-17) Satan was declared perfect in appearance and full of wisdom, but his beauty and intelligence became the source of his FALL. (Isaiah 14:12-15) There is no COMPARISON between the Uncreated Creator God and the created fallen angel satan. (Revelation 20:7-10) Christians are equipped and empowered to DEFEAT the devil by the power of God. 2Corinthians 10:3-4 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. Luke 10:19-20 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”